Your note found me in the confusion of packing my clothes and hiding my silver spoons preparatory to leaving Chelsea for a week or ten days. I now write with such composure of soul as one can command in a country house full of visitors, to say that I can quite well
give the girl till the 18th as Helen is not tied to a day and quite ready to conform to my wishes. Decidedly the girl had better steer clear of joiners and rely on her own sense and Scotch tongue Please to tell me before the time what money she needs for her passage and I
will send a post office order for the same to you—in case she have none of her own.

I am glad you liked my dear old Betty1—tho' she did not wet-nurse me, I feel towards her precisely as to a nurse. Tell me what sort of looking person my girl is, that I may not receive a shock at the outset from expecting something the opposite of the fact.

I am quite dished today with want of sleep and want of quiet— We are on a visit at Lord Ashburtons at the Grange beyond Winchester a beautiful
place—and the people are excellent people—one of the family Lady Harriet Baring clever to death—and one ought to be as happy as the day's long—but what avails all the beautiful scenery and upholstery—magnificence and sparkling wit—to
a poor wretch who lies awake till five in the morning?—

I wish I were at your fireside in Hill street for the moment— There it used to be so comfortable—so free! Thanks to you for going to Betty, and for all the trouble you have taken in my affair—and a kiss over and above

JWC-SS, [29 Oct.]. MS: NLS 20.5.25.40. Hitherto unpbd. Apparently written on the day after the Carlyles arrived at the Grange, 28 Oct. (see TC to JAC, 25 Oct., where TC says they are going “on Wednesday”).